Connecticut
CT House passes bill aimed at protecting warehouse workers
Legislation inspired by labor concerns over Amazon’s use of quotas and biometric surveillance to manage its warehouse workers was approved Wednesday on a largely party-line vote in the state House of Representatives.
A compromise combining elements of bills proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont and the legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee would require greater transparency from employers about quotas and digital monitoring.
If House Bill 6907 passes the Senate as expected, Connecticut would follow California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon and Washington with laws intended to provide greater protections for workers in warehouses and fulfillment centers.
The measure passed on a 97-46 vote over the unanimous opposition of the Republican minority and two Democrats, Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan of Bethel and Rep. Jill Barry of Glastonbury.
Rep. Manny Sanchez, D-New Britain, co-chair of the labor committee, said the bill’s intent was to require transparency about quotas and ensure they “do not interfere with employees’ legally mandated meal and bathroom breaks.”
Republicans assailed the legislation as a government overreach and an effort by unions to achieve in legislation would they could in organizing and collective bargaining.
”Why does the legislature, why does the executive branch, why does the governor seem to be punitive towards business when we have companies who we are trying to attract to come here?” said Rep. Steve Weir, R-Hebron.
Lamont, a former business owner who has made economic growth a priority, has broken with labor on some issues, most notably a bill that would provide jobless benefits to strikers. But he proposed his own version of a warehouse bill after taking no position on one proposed two years ago.
The National Employment Law Project reported last year that the rate of warehouse worker injury is twice the average of other private industries, which NELP blamed in part on the tactics that some companies, notably Amazon, employ to speed the pace of workers in a business that promises prompt deliveries.
Amazon did not submit any testimony on the bill this year or the version proposed in 2023, but Weir defended the company.
“Why are we trying to send the message that we don’t appreciate the jobs and the opportunity and the ingenuity and the efficiency that they bring to make sure that all those packages show up on our doorstep when we order them?” said Weir, the ranking Republican on labor. “So this is a terrible message to send. Make no mistake, this is all about the messaging.”
Rep. Dave Rutigliano, R-Trumbull, said he was confident Amazon could comply, but he worried about other companies and the general message sent to business.
“We have this penchant to sort of go after these big companies, the boogeyman, like Amazon,” Rutigliano said. “Well, I gotta tell you, I’m not here to defend Amazon. I guarantee you, Amazon doesn’t have a big problem with this bill, because they’re already meeting every aspect of this bill.”
The bill applies to companies that employee at least 100 workers in one warehouse or an aggregate of 1,000 in the state.
Other Republicans said the bill interfered with the labor-management relationship. The bill is an element of a campaign to lobby blue-state legislatures to set standards in law for a retail distribution giant that has proved difficult to organize and bring to collective bargaining.
While the Connecticut AFL-CIO supports the bill, the campaign for passage in Connecticut has been led by the Teamsters.
Their international arm is trying to organize Amazon workers, and two locals in Connecticut are fearful that if Amazon’s standards are allowed to persist, other warehouse workers could feel similar pressures.
Unions have had at least one failure on the issue in a blue state.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2028, vetoed a similar warehouse bill in March. His message focused on process, less than the desirability of states imposing standards.
“While I share the goal of protecting warehouse workers from dangerous and unfair working conditions, this bill was passed hastily at the end of the Lame Duck session without engagement with relevant state agencies or my office and presents both legal and operational issues that undermine its effect,” Pritzker wrote.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Five Connecticut towns will collectively receive $10 million in grants for infrastructure upgrades, according to a Monday announcement by Gov. Ned Lamont.
The Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) is awarding $10.7 million to Coventry, Guilford, Ledyard, Mansfield and Thomaston to modernize and rehabilitate housing for low- and moderate-income residents, the announcement said.
The funds are being released through the DOH’s Community Development Block Grant’s small cities program, with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. To be eligible, a municipality must have fewer than 50,000 residents.
Cost Breakdown
Coventry: $2 million
Town of Coventry plans to use funds to upgrade, with a focus on making Orchard Hill Estates compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Guilford: $2 million
The Town of Guilford plans to use funds to design and build future affordable housing projects, consisting of up to 16 rental units and 8 homes.
Ledyard: $2 million
The Town of Canton requested funding for the first phase of affordable housing for people in Ledyard and the surrounding area. Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut is in the pre-development phase of the Colby Drive and plans to create 38 units.
Mansfield: $2.2 million
Funding will be used for upgrades to Wright’s Village, including roof replacements and sidewalk repairs.
Thomaston: $2.5 million
Funds will be used to make Green Manor ADA-compliant, including the installation of a new emergency call aid system.
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Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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